BELL, JAMES [2]

Architect and civil engineer. James Bell, the eldest son of JAMES BELL [1]JAMES BELL [1] , was born at Newtownforbes, Co. Longford in 1829. After holding an appointment as assistant engineer on the Co. Longford famine relief works of 1847-8, he was articled to CHARLES LANYONCHARLES LANYON . According to his obituarist in the Minutes and Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers he showed early talent: 'At that early period of life he displayed unusual ability, especially as a draughtsman, in advance of the recognized standard of thirty years ago, and an original and somewhat daring genius for architectural design, which, if pursued and chastened by more experience, might have resulted in conspicuous success in the sister profession.' From 1850-1854 he was resident engineer and clerk of works under Lanyon at the Belfast Lunatic Asylum and from 1856 to 1857 worked with Lanyon on plans for the National Gallery of Ireland. He was chief draughtsman in the Board of Works circa 1858-59(1) and then worked as an assistant to his father, the county surveyor for Co. Longford. In 1862 he competed successfully for the county surveyorship of the the northern district of Co. Dublin, left vacant after the transfer of ALEXANDER TATE ALEXANDER TATE to Co. Antrim. At around this time he became joint architect with JAMES FARRELL JAMES FARRELL for the lunatic asylum at Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, which was built between 1863 and 1866.

Bell continued as county surveyor for the northern district of Co. Dublin from May 1883 until a few months before his death, which took place on 24 October 1883 at his home, 3 Windsor Terrace, Malahide.(2) He was buried in Mount Jerome cemetery(3) with two of his children who had died in infancy. According to his obituarist he had a 'taking appearance and genial manner' and 'a character singularly affectionate and humorous.' He was succeeded in the county surveyorship by THOMAS TURNER.THOMAS TURNER.

AAI: present at inaugural meeting, 13 October 1872.(4)RIAI: elected fellow, 21 May 1863;(5) auditor 1868-9;(6) resigned membership in February 1870 but consented to withdraw his resignation the following month;(7) nominated member of Council 1877.(8)ICEI: elected member, 1864;(9) council member, 1867;(10) no longer listed as member, 1870.(11)Inst.CE: elected member, 4 February 1879. RSAI: proposed by THOMAS DREW THOMAS DREW and elected member 15 April 1868;(12) shows drawings, plans and photographs of the ruins at Monasterboice at meeting of the society at Kilkenny on 5 April 1871;(13) drawings and plans of the round tower and crosses at published in journal, 1871.(14)

All information in this entry not otherwise accounted for are from the obituary of Bell in Min.Proc.Inst.CE 79 (1884-5) Pt. 1, 361-2, and from Brendan O'Donoghue, The Irish County Surveyors 1834-1944 (Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2007), 96-97, which gives the fullest account of Bell's career.